Originally inhabited by the Maidu and Miwok Indians, by the mid-19th century the city site was known as Alder Grove; however, as development increased, the city became known as Illinoistown, a supply hub for gold mining camps. In April 1852, the Reelfoot Williams Gang robbed a Nevada Citystagecoach of $7,000 in gold bullion near Illinoistown. This was the first stagecoach robbery in the gold country. Later it was renamed Colfax after then Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax who visited the town in 1865 while inspecting progress of construction of the Central Pacific Railroad, the western portion of the first transcontinental railroad. The city was the southern terminus of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad from 1876 until the railroad's removal in 1942. Historic U.S. Route 40 also runs through the city as well as the more modern Interstate 80. The city is mentioned in Jules Verne’s book, Around the World in Eighty Days. In July 2015 the Lowell Fire burned thousands of acres nearby, forcing evacuation in Nevada County.
Geography
Colfax is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land. The principal geologic structures present are granitic and metamorphic rock formations. Located approximately west of Colfax is a branch of the Melones Fault, running in north to south direction. The fault runs through the old grammar school baseball field so they closed the school. Another branch of the same fault is located about to the east, also aligned in a north–south orientation. No movement has been recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the faults are considered inactive. Bunch Creek is an active water source flowing south to eventually reach a confluence with the North Fork of the American River. Colfax sits a few miles outside the Tahoe National Forest as I-80 begins its climb into the Sierras. Because of its location it is considered at high risk of wildfire.
Climate
Colfax has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate that is characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Summers can be quite hot, especially in the months of July and August where temperatures easily reach, with plenty of sunshine. Winters, on the other hand, are quite cool with temperatures in December hovering around, and owing to its altitude above sea level, Colfax some years sees snow accumulation.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Colfax had a population of 1,963. The population density was 1,394.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Colfax was 1,759 White, 4 African American, 26 Native American, 29 Asian, 2 Pacific Islander, 54 from other races, and 89 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 178 persons. The Census reported that 1,958 people lived in households, 5 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 were institutionalized. . There were 823 households, out of which 286 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 334 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 131 had a female householder with no husband present, 40 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 67 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 259 households were made up of individuals, and 90 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38. There were 505 families ; the average family size was 2.98. The population was spread out, with 499 people under the age of 18, 159 people aged 18 to 24, 501 people aged 25 to 44, 580 people aged 45 to 64, and 224 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males. There were 929 housing units at an average density of 660.1 per square mile, of which 386 were owner-occupied, and 437 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%. 895 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,063 people lived in rental housing units.
Transportation
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Colfax. The city's passenger rail station is located at 99 Railroad Street in the heart of town. Amtrak Train 5, the westbound California Zephyr, is scheduled to depart Colfax at 11:48am daily with service to Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, and Emeryville across the bay from San Francisco. Amtrak Train 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, is scheduled to depart Colfax at 12:21pm daily with service to Truckee, Reno, Sparks, Winnemucca, Elko, Salt Lake City, Provo, Helper, Green River, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Denver, Omaha, Galesburg, and Chicago. A bronze statue of the town's namesake, Schuyler Colfax, stands near the depot at the Grass Valley Street railroad grade crossing.
